Method of bleaching wood



ERNEST BATEMAN, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN.

METHOD OF BLEACHING WOOD.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application filed September 8, 1919. semi No. 322,580.

. t. (FILED UNDER. THE ACT OF HAROI-l 3, 1883, 22 STAT. L, 625.)

This application ,is made under the of a March 3, 1883, chapter 143 (22 Stat; 625),

and the invention herein d cribed and claimed may be used by the Government of the United States or any f it ffi er and employees in the prosecution of work for the Government of the Unit d States or any of its officers and employ i th Prosecution of work for the Government and any Person In the States without payment to me Of 'fiiy royalty thereon.

the lhufacture of chairs and other fllrnlture rrom oak or other woods where a light .1101 is desired, it frequently happens that considerable difficulty is encountered in g ltching the various sections so as to pro- .iuce a uniform color or shade which is essential in the best types of ofiice furniture. Moreover, when the sections are matched as nearly as possible before n'ianufacture, in the process of manufacture one or more of the sections becomes darker during the rocess, with detrimental results to the iinished products. This is particularly so if any section is steamed and bent during the process.

I have discovered that by the use of a solution containing nitric acid and a chlorate, such as potassium or sodium, a lighter and more uniform color is obtained, and when the solution is properly appliedto sound wood the strength of the wood is not materially affected. The concentration of the 40 nitric acid and chlorate salt may vary within rather wide limits, depending somewhat on the nature of the work, the time in which the bleaching must be obtained, and the shade or color desired. Where brilliant shades of yellow are desired, I prefer to use a solution of concentrated nitric acid which has been saturated with potassium or sodium chlorate. This solution is allowed to act for only a short length of time. Where less brilliant yellows are desired, I prefer to use a mixture of concentrated nitric acid saturated with potassium chlorate and diluted with an equal volume of water; the wood being subjected in this case to a somewhat longer treatment than in the previous solution. Where pale yellows are desired, I prefer to use a saturated solution of potassium chlorate mixed with one-third its volume ofconoentrated nitric acid. In the practice of my invention I apply the solution prepared as above described to the wood in any suitable manner. The wood may be dipped in the solution, or the solution may be spread On the surface of the wood by means of a suitable brush. I then dry the material as quickly as possible in a heated oven.

1' claim:

A method of bleaching wood which comprises applying thereto a solution of concentrated nitric acid combined with potassium chlorate.

In testimony whereof, I affix my si ature on this 11th day of August, 1919, in t e presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST BATEMAN.

Witnesses L. F. HAWLEY, S. A. MAHoon. 

